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Actor Samuel L. Jackson is considering joining forces with Mark Hamill and Ewan Mcgregor to lobby director J.J. Abrams in person for roles in the new Star Wars sequel after revealing he hasn't been invited to reprise his sci-fi character. The Django Unchained star, who portrayed Jedi Master Mace Windu in three of the six Star Wars films, recently found himself working with Hamill in London and decided to ask the original Luke Skywalker if he had officially been offered a job in Abrams' upcoming seventh film.
He also quizzed McGregor, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi opposite him in the most recent films, about Star Wars: Episode VII and was surprised to discover that none of the trio had been recruited for the top secret project.
Jackson tells U.S. talk show host David Letterman, "I asked Mark if he'd heard from J.J. Abrams and he said, 'No', and then all of a sudden, Ewan was there (in London) and I spoke to him on the phone, asked him if he was there doing Star Wars. He said, 'No, they haven't called me.'
"So I was thinking, maybe all three of us could just get together and go over to the Star Wars set and just stand around and see if maybe they could use some old Jedi! And then I heard on television they were auditioning people for Star Wars and I said, 'Well, maybe we should just go through the auditions and see if we can get a job!'"
Jackson admits he's a little disappointed at the prospect of not appearing in Episode VII after making it clear to Abrams that he would jump at the chance to return to the franchise after they were both guests at Star Wars creator George Lucas' summer (13) nuptials.
He adds, "I pretty much hinted to J.J. that I wanted to be in the film at George Lucas' wedding, and he was kinda like, 'Mmm', that was about the most I got out of him."
Official casting announcements have yet to be made, but Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher had all previously been asked by Lucas to make appearances in the forthcoming sequel, while young actors Michael B. Jordan and Irish beauty Saoirse Ronan have confirmed that they recently auditioned for parts.
Production on Star Wars: Episode VII is set to begin in the U.K. early next year (14).

WENN
Last week Kerry Washington fans the world over let out a collective OMG as sources confirmed that the Scandal actress is expecting her first child. Over the summer Washington went off and got hitched to NFL player Nnamdi Asomugha, and now it looks like their family is getting ready to expand. But what does it all mean for us?! All good things, we believe. Here are just a few reasons to get excited about Kerry’s bun in the oven.
There Will Be A Human Being On the Planet Who Was Raised By Kerry Washington
Have you ever met Kerry Washington? Okay, probably not. But have you ever read any of her interviews? She’s amazing. Insanely smart, acutely aware, and – obviously -- crazy talented. And now there’s going to be someone who gets to say that this amazing woman is his/her mother. That alone is reason to celebrate. Or reason to be insanely jealous of a baby. But why be jealous when that baby is eventually going to grow up and probably infect the world with its awesome genetic traits?
The Maternity Fashion Will Be Insane
This year Kerry Washington was named People Magazine’s Best Dressed Woman In The World. That’s quite a title, but we’ve seen her red carpet looks and she definitely deserves it. And now that she’s with child, fashionistas the world over will be fawning all over her maternity wear, and all of the custom-made, bump-ready gowns she’ll surely be rocking come awards season. It’s gonna be epic.
They Write The Pregnancy Into Scandal And President Fitz Is The Babydaddy
One question Scandal fans have is whether or not the pregnancy will effect one of the biggest shows on television right now. Obviously, it will have some effect, but we have to wonder if Shonda Rhimes decides to write it into the script will that mean that the President of the United States will have a baby out of wedlock with his lover Olivia Pope? And if so, can the world handle that much scandal?
They Write The Pregnancy Into Scandal And Jake Ballard Is The Babydaddy
Okay? How crazy would that be? We all love Olivia and Fitz, but things have been heating back up between Olivia and Jake. Can we imagine a world where Olivia and Jake actually make a baby together?
They Don’t Write It Into Scandal And We Get To Experience Olivia Pope From The Waist-Up For A Few Episodes
The truth is, we don’t really see Olivia Pope getting pregs on the show. And while we wouldn’t put it past the genius that is Shonda Rhimes, we also would be perfectly fine with a world where Olivia Pope remained baby-free. We’d all just have to laugh our way through a few episodes where they’d be concealing Washington's pregnancy behind lots of desks and various objects that Pope would be forced to carry about, for seemingly no reason. As long as the show’s still on, we’re pretty much cool with whatever.
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Warner Bros
Good comedians are as hard to come by as good filmmakers. To stand out in just one of those fields is relatively rare. That's why this select group of artists who have had success in both is so extraordinary. Whether it's on the silver screen (or more realistically on TVs, laptops, and mobile devices, but you get the point) or on stage, they are simply experts in the art of making people laugh. Here are some of the best comedian/filmmakers working today.
Bobcat Goldthwait
The "screaming comedian" of the 1980s is a seasoned writer/director and has created some great films in recent years including World's Greatest Dad and God Bless America. His latest feature Willow Creek, which tells the story of Bigfoot enthusiasts, is making the rounds on the festival circuit and stands to be his most successful film yet.
Mike Birbiglia
A champion of brutally honest, self-deprecating humor, Birbiglia established himself as a top-notch filmmaker with the release of his freshman film, the semi-autobiographical Sleepwalk with Me in 2012, which he co-wrote and co-directed.
Ricky Gervais
Gervais made his bones in television but has made his way into stand-up and film, directing his first feature, The Invention of Lying, in 2009.
Jay Chandrasekhar
Chandrasekhar had already been performing for several years before the cult hit Super Troopers. He and his Broken Lizard cohorts have released a slew of hilarious films since including Beerfest and Babymakers.
Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant
Veterans of The State and Reno 911, the pair have branched out into features. The long-time writing partners co-directed 2013's Hell Baby, Garant's third feature and Lennon's first.
David Wain
The former director of The State, Wain created a cult following with his star-studded directorial debut Wet Hot American Summer in 2001. He has since directed Role Models and Wanderlust, while still devoting a great deal of time to television.
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Actress Olivia Colman has confirmed reports she will be back as Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller in the sequel to hit British TV drama Broadchurch. The murder mystery became a huge hit in the U.K. when it debuted earlier this year (13) and it went on to become a cult hit in the U.S. and elsewhere this summer (13).
Colman tells the BBC her role is now "set in stone", but she has also confirmed that she will not be joining co-star David Tennant in the planned U.S. TV spin-off, which is scheduled to start filming in January (13).
Meanwhile, Broadchurch is being adapted into a novel, according to The Daily Telegraph newspaper. Scriptwriter Chris Chibnall and author Erin Kelly have reportedly teamed up to bring the TV drama to the page.

Rob Lowe has confessed he will most likely return to his role on Parks And Recreation, despite the fact he's leaving the show halfway through the current season. The actor and co-star Rashida Jones announced they will both depart the sitcom this summer (13), but Lowe has revealed the door is always open for him to return.
He tells U.S. talk show host David Letterman, "We will probably come back. I'll always come back because I love doing that show so much."
When asked why he decided to leave the show, Lowe pretended to lay the blame with his co-star Amy Poehler, saying, "Amy Poehler has deeply offended both of us and we're not having it. I have boundaries!... Amy Poehler is a p**ck! What are you going to do?"
Lowe, who was originally only hired for six episodes, has been on the Emmy-nominated series for four seasons.
Both he and Jones have already lined up projects after their departures - each are producing comedies for NBC.

Last I Heard
From a military academy in NY to the bright lights of Hollywood, director David Rodriguez has become a pro at taking his films from indie to gold. He shares his passion for writing, directing and what it’s like working with an ensemble cast in his latest film, Last I Heard, premiering at the Austin Film Festival.
How do you go from the New York Military Academy to directing and writing films?
I've always been enamored with show business. I can't say however that there was a clear transition from NYMA to writing films. I lived quite a bit between NYMA and directing my first film. What I did learn…was the value of strong time management skills and that has certainly informed my process as a director.
How long have you been writing/directing?
I started writing about 16 years ago and directed my first film which I wrote in 2004.
What does being a director mean to you?
That's a loaded question, and all I will say is this; directing fulfills me personally and professionally and I can't see doing anything else. I absolutely love being on set and collaborating with a team of actors and crew that are there to bring my creative ideas and thoughts to life.
Your latest film, Last I Heard, follows a gangster just released from prison after 20 years. It’s a take I haven’t seen done before, where did the story come from?
The genesis of Last I Heard came from what I saw as a demise in NY organized crime. I'm a NY '80s kid and what I saw then in the news, as compared to what I've seen now is quite different. I'm also very aware of social issues and the affect they have on the older American generation, so I felt like a deteriorating gangster thrown into having to deal with some serious social issues was a recipe for a great and original story.
The film has done very well in the festival circuit premiering at the Seattle International Film Festival, Hollyshorts Film Festival, Director’s Guild of America and the upcoming Austin Film Festival. Tell us a little about taking a film on the road with festivals.
When I made my first feature, the idea of traveling to different festivals was exhilarating. I now understand that festivals are designed to promote your film. The business of being part of a festival is daunting. You really hope your film is well received, so I do try to make it to each festival and after each screening, I find myself scouring the internet for reviews, hoping that critics love the film as much as I felt the audience had. I feel very fortunate that the love everyone had for making Last I Heard has translated into a solid film. So far festival audiences are liking it and that's all we can hope for.
Last I Heard was the first feature-length film to ever premiere at Hollyshorts. How did that come about?
I had a short film premiere at HollyShorts a few years before. It was actually a pilot presentation / TV sample called ‘The Blue Wall’ that my agent at the time thought played well as a short. The guys at HollyShorts felt it would be an inspiring thing for short filmmakers to see a feature from a director who had a short at the same fest a few years before. I feel like they may have found some success in this and hopefully we established a new standard for the festival.
You chose an all-star cast. Did you have these actors (Paul Sorvino, Michael Rapaport) in mind when writing the film?
I definitely had those guys in mind from the beginning. Working with Paul and Michael was an amazing experience. Any time you're able to work with master actors like those guys makes your time on set much easier than normal. I've learned over the years that no matter the star power of an actor, they all want to be directed. I also had Renee Props, Chazz Palminteri, Steven Bauer, Paul BenVictor, Hassan Johnson and Lev Gorn on set and that was only a part of the ensemble cast. The experience also showed in how fast I was able to move while still capturing unbelievable performances. We shot the film in 18 days and during the last week, we were looking for scenes to add on to the day. Each day was scheduled for twelve hours and the last few days we were done just after lunch. If anything, that's what experience across the board gets you.
Tell us a little about your heritage. Does this influence your films?
I'm Puerto Rican by both parents. My dad's family were new to the island via Barcelona, Spain and I do speak, read and write Spanish fluently. I'm not sure that my heritage influences my work directly but, I do have that blue collar DNA in me which is what drives me to work hard toward the professional goals I've set for myself.
What’s next for you?
I was fortunate to have sold a show to AMC called The Street Attorney this past summer. However, I'm open to everything at this point but, my main focus at this time is breaking into episodic directing. The idea of working frequently in a great time in television appeals to me more than sitting at home dialing for dollars in order to get another indie feature made. The indie business is so hard right now and fortunately, I've written and directed three features, but unfortunately, I don't have a trust or a rich family.
Last I Heard will screen at The Austin Film Festival, Tuesday October 29.
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Lady Gaga will show fans she has put an end to her feud with pal Sir Elton John when he joins her on a Muppets festive TV special next month (Nov13). The outspoken Rocket Man accused the singer, who is godmother to his two sons, of avoiding him and refusing to take his calls over the summer.
They appeared to be back on speaking terms when she joined him and his partner David Furnish for dinner in Los Angeles last month (Sep13), and now they will put on a united front by joining forces for the Lady Gaga & The Muppets' Holiday Spectacular.
The show will air in the U.S. on 28 November and will feature the two superstars performing with Jim Henson's beloved puppets.
Elton last appeared on The Muppet Show in 1978, when he duetted with Miss Piggy on Don't Go Breaking My Heart, as well as playing Crocodile Rock, Bennie And The Jets, and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

www.splashnews.com
Ever disagreed so strongly with a movie review that you were convinced you could change the critic's mind if only you had the chance? Movie review aggregating site Rotten Tomatoes gave a room full of cinephiles that chance at last weekend's New York Comic Con. "Your Opinion Sucks!: Rotten Tomatoes Critics Vs. Fans" leveled the playing field by opening up the dialogue between professional and armchair reviewers. Every member of the audience received a Tomato Meter paddle ("Fresh" on one side, "Rotten" on the other) to vote, and the bravest lined up to defend their unpopular opinions. Once that person made his or her passionate case, the panel, including Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman and Salon's Andrew O'Hehir, had the opportunity to give a rebuttal.
What followed was a rowdy back and forth, but all respectful and in good fun. Gleiberman offered his support to a brave teenager who nearly caused a riot by daring to dislike Wall-E. Opinions are your own, he assured the kid. That's the beauty of the variety we're lucky enough to have. An audience member who declared Twilight to be "Fresh" was greeted by a roomful of "Rotten" votes and a long silence from the panel. Cinema Blend's Katey Rich did eventually concede that at least Bella's high school friends were "pretty fun." (As usual, Anna Kendrick is the best part of anything she's in.) We found the one person in the country who actually liked Speed Racer (O'Hehir: "Some people get migraines and enjoy them.") and we're all still pretty divided on Man of Steel.
The critics were understanding of varying cinematic tastes, but rallied against one common enemy: mediocrity. When another participant defended The Purge as a "summer movie" that "did what it was supposed to do," Gleiberman insisted that we have to raise our standards. Democratized critical dialogues like this one will do just that.
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In anticipation for the upcoming David O. Russell movie American Hustle, we're celebrating the 1970s with a look at our favorite modern-day films set in the disco era. Based on the FBI Abscam operation in the late '70s and early '80s, the movie centers around a cunning con man (Christian Bale) and his partner (Amy Adams), who are forced to cooperate with the FBI. Besides being excited to watch Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper reunite on screen, we're also looking forward to the leisure suits, perms, and boogying. The '70s, which has been called "a pivot of change" and the "Me Decade," had one of the most distinct looks and feels (everyone wanted to look fabulous and go dancing), and lends itself well to cinema. Before American Hustle comes out, let's revisit all the best modern movies set in the 1970s.
Boogie Nights
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, Boogie Nights featured a phenomenal cast playing various characters in the 1970s adult film industry. Mark Wahlberg turned out a career-making performance as Dirk Diggler, an up-and-coming porn star who rose to fame in the Golden Age of Porn. Movies about the porn industry are never warm and fuzzy, though, and the movie presents a very real and harrowing look at how easily one can spiral out of control in the business.
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is easily one of the most iconic movies of all time. The title character (Tom Hanks), though limited in his intelligence, experiences the most significant historic moments of the '60s and '70s. Forrest fights in the Vietnam War, meets Lyndon B. Johnson, speaks at anti-war rallies with hippies, discovers the Watergate break-in, defeats China in ping-pong, and runs across the country several times. Everything from the political climate to the fashion and soundtrack paints a picture of the time period to a tee.
Summer of Sam
Spike Lee's Summer of Sam centers around a group of people caught up in the frenzy of one of the most infamous summers in U.S. history. In 1977, a serial killer calling himself Son of Sam terrorized New York City as he went on a killing spree shooting women in parked cars and wrote letters to the media warning that he would kill again. The movie depicts the fear that New Yorkers lived in during those fraught months, while also touching on the rise of punk music and the relationship between organized crime leaders and the NYPD.
Casino
As if the '70s weren't pronounced enough as an era, the '70s in Las Vegas was a visual overload of bell-bottoms, colorful leisure suits, and gold jewelry. Martin Scorsese's Casino follows three characters intertwined in a corrupt casino as they rise to power and then crumble as the FBI, government officials, and the mafia take down their empire. Sharon Stone (as Ginger) shines in the film, both in her performance and in her glittery gowns.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
The time period may not be the first thing you think of when you think Anchorman, but Ron Burgundy and his news team did rock some pretty serious '70s moustaches, sideburns, and leisure suits between them. Not to mention Veronica Corningstone's sharp skirtsuits.
Almost Famous
The 1970s created some of the best rock bands in history, and Almost Famous is a celebration of the rich decade for music. Based on director Cameron Crowe's own experience as a teenage rock journalist for Rolling Stone, the coming-of-age film sees protagonist William go from his typical high school life with a strict mom to life on the road with fictional band Stillwater. The movie's soundtrack alone will completely take you back to the time period.
Dazed and Confused
Dazed and Confused makes high school look so much more fun in 1976 than 2013, especially the last day of school. The movie follows the course of one day and night, as the incoming freshmen get hazed by next year's seniors, kids try marijuana for the first time, and everybody lets loose at a keg party. And who can forget Matthew McConaughey in his tight t-shirt and pink bell-bottoms as the creepy older guy who still picks up high school girls?
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NBC
Mini-series have long been a great way to while away a summer. The form had largely disappeared, but Under The Dome, an adaptation of a Stephen King novel of the same name, has seen a revival.The 1980s had the best ones, though. Part of it may have been the fact that we had a lot fewer distractions then, with many fewer channels, no cellphones or internet. Here's five of the best Miniseries from the age of shoulderpads and Swatches.
Shogun (1980)
A rare case of the TV show/movie being as good as the book. They did a great job of bringing James Clavell's massive tome of the same name to life. Richard Chamberlain excelled as a white man in feudal Japan. Also, anything with Toshiro Mifune, who was one of the greatest Japanese actors of all time, in it can't be bad.
The Thorn Birds (1983)
This was a sprawling story that covered 60 years in the lives of the Cleary Family and starred Chamberlain as a priest who falls tragically in love with a woman. He OWNED the mini-series market during the '80s. He wasn't the most dominant Chamberlain, though. Wilt was having his way with thousands of women during this decade.
V: The Final Battle (1984)
The original campy version in the '80s definitely outshone the recent remake. Marc Singer was great as one of the main protagonists in this battle for the planet Earth against aliens who definitely aren't friendly like E.T.. The warlike extra-terrestrial visitors in this mini-series would eat that Reeses Pieces-loving alien for lunch.
North and South (1985)
A mini-series about the Civil War with a young Patrick Swayze, well before his Roadhouse and Dirty Dancing days. No, he didn't become a ghost and begin dancing during the series. It also had Kirstie Alley, David Carradine, and Johnny Cash. Cash didn't sing "Hurt" during this either.
Shaka Zulu (1986)
Christopher Lee was in it. Enough said. Anything with a badass like him is automatically worth watching. Even his character's name, Lord Bathurst, sounds like someone you don't want to mess with. The funny thing is that most of the mini- series takes place during a time after the titular character was dead.
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